The Sower of Black Field is now officially an award-winning novel!
Hey, all. Here’s a fun fact for you. As of today, I share something in common with Jim Carrey, Henry Winkler (Fonzie from Happy Days), and Jonathan Frakes (that’s Commander William T. Riker of the starship Enterprise, 1701-D, for you Trekkies out there—I’m one too!) We all have books that competed through the years in the Reader’s Favorite Book Awards contest and won a gold medal!
I learned this morning that my debut historical fiction novel, The Sower of Black Field, won the gold medal for Religious Fiction in the 2024 Reader’s Favorite Book Contest. Check it out »
I’ve been entering the book in just about any contest where it qualifies, and it looks like ‘Religious Fiction’ is THE category where this story is coming up a winner every time it competes. It also earned a finalist placement for Religious Fiction in the 2024 American Fiction Awards (the first contest I entered, and has posted a list of winners). I have applied for other contests that post results in March and May 2025. I have a feeling there will be more where this came from.
Funny thing. I don’t see this as a religious novel. Sure, the main character is a Catholic priest, and yeah, that means he’s going to preach, or spiritually advise people on a couple occasions. But at its core, this story is about an experience that we all share—the fundamental reality of hardships and suffering. You don’t have to be Catholic, or Christian, or even religious to agree with that sentiment. It’s an axiom, evident to all life throughout the universe. (It even applies to alien life that Commander Riker and the crew of the Enterprise encounter as they boldly go where no one has gone before!) In The Sower, the characters are asking tough questions about faith, good and evil, why suffering is a part of our reality in the first place, if there is a higher Power working through it all—and if so, how? I don’t profess to be a theologian—or even a preacher—but this novel tries to offer a few thoughts on the matter from the historical figure of Fr. Viktor Koch, C.P.
Is it a worthy read? Well, don’t take it from me. Take it from the gold medal, the five star review from Chanticleer, and the “Get it!” stamp from Kirkus Reviews. More merits to come!
